Another significant invitee

Righteous causes can never have too many advocates. John Edwards is from North Carolina, and though he has pulled out of the Democratic race for the presidency, he remains a significant voice for poverty and for other causes that matter to this country. Here is a letter that we'd recommend that you cut and paste and send to him, this at the request of Gary Grant, BFAA president, and organizer of the 10th Annual Black Land Loss Summit.


February 6, 2008

The Honorable John Edwards
John Edwards for President
410 Market Street, Suite 400,
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Dear Mr. Edwards:

We are requesting that you accept the invitation of the leaders of the 10th Annual Black Land Loss Summit to attend and serve as the keynote speaker for the Awards Luncheon at the 10th National Black Land Loss Summit – at the Historic Franklinton Center at Bricks, Whitakers, NC. The luncheon is scheduled from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 15, 2008. The Summit runs from Friday afternoon, February 15 through Sunday midday, February 17, 2008.

We are just a little over two weeks from the Summit. In the last 90 days, three Black farm families have faced legal actions resulting from years of discrimination by lenders to them and in particular by the USDA. On Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 12 noon the land (approximately 250 acres) of the wife and heirs of Mr. Roland Hardy, Enfield, NC was auctioned off on the steps of the Halifax County, North Carolina Court House. On Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at high noon on the steps of the Halifax County Court House the family farm of James A. Davis, Sr., James A., and Linda Davis, Jr. family was scheduled for auction - more than 200 acres at stake; and the heirs of Matthew and Florenza Moore Grant in the New Deal Resettlement community of Tillery North Carolina are facing a Writ of Execution. The Consent Judgment was signed by Mr. Grant in 1981 which the Department of Justice missed its deadline for filing for renewal. Now the DOJ is attempting to force the sale of approximately 250 acres of land.

All together, this means that almost 1,000 acres of prime farm, timber, and development land is basically being stolen from the hands of those who have worked to own it and provide for their families and heirs, and all resulting from discriminatory actions by the FmHA/FSA more than 20 years ago or part of the “two Americas” that you so aptly describe. This is just in Halifax County, North Carolina and those that we know of. These are not isolated cases.

Further, we have been informed that US District Judge James Robertson in the Eddie Wise and Dorothy Monroe Wise et al. vs. Dan Glickman, Secretary, USDA has denied class status to the claimants. This will only serve to hasten the final nails in the coffins of many other women, Black and small family farmers. Your urgent attention is needed.

Realizing that you have just come off the Presidential Campaign trail and time with your family is of the utmost value, we respectfully request your assistance along with your message of change and hope that you continue to bring to North Carolinians and others across the nation.

The Summit’s attendance usually represents more than 20 states, including farmers, researchers, activists, elected officials, and other interested citizens. This year, the USDA Office of Civil Rights committed to attending and appearing on the panel entitled “10 Years After Pigford.” This issue is part of what helps to make the two Americas and will have even more profound impact on small family farmers and poor people as the new biotechnologies for alternative fuels raise prices on other products and items of every day need and use. You have been a great speaker on behalf of the working class in this country. Farmers and their families must be included in this body of “workers.”

We would be honored to have you, a former senator for North Carolina and Presidential candidate to pay tribute to farmers with your presence.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Yours for the Survival of the Black Farmer, and on behalf of the Social Justice Team at Abilene Christian University,



Waymon R. Hinson, Ph.D.